Is a Washer Dryer worth it?

Andrew_Ryan_89

Hi,,

My washing machine broke and I am currently looking for a replacement. We haven't got the biggest of houses and when we do a wash, the second room gets full up with clothes drying from a rack for a day or two. It's not too much of a problem as we probably only do 2-3 washes and end of each month, if that, and hang them all up together.

With a baby on the way and washing probably being a more frequent occurrence, I thought of replacing my broken washing machine with a washer-dryer. I mentioned this in a passing conversation with a friend and he said. aside from the electricity cost, the problem with them is that they don't last as long and dealing with the condensation can be a pain (he mentioned you have to drill a whole to the outside for the evaporated water to escape to).

Just wanted to get your thoughts

Dakota_Deville

We had a washer drier mach about 25 yrs ago, hopefully things have moved on. If you have space, a seprate dier is the best with auto tumble and 'A' rated but stil use a loct of eletric, but we swear by them as the towels and clothing comes out super soft, put in one of this tissue softenr type thing in, my wife knows what they are called and your old towels and new come out soft as day one - so even in the summer, all of our towels, soculs and underpants go in the drier.

EssexExile

No holes to be drilled, no condensation problems!

Problems with washer dryers: Two machines squeezed into one box makes them more complicated & less reliable. You can't wash & dry at the same time. You usually can only dry small loads, not a whole washing load. Not as efficient as separates.

rach_k

You don't get condensation that affects you, as the water goes out down the drain (same place as the water from the wash).

Some people hate them, some people love them.

I'm a fan because I don't use the dryer enough to justify the space that separates would take up. I try to air dry things where I can but it's so useful to have the option to dry in there if I want/need to.

A lot of people point out that with both in one machine you can't wash one load and dry another at the same time, but unless you are dealing with an awful lot of laundry, with a little organisation that shouldn't be a problem even if you're drying everything in the tumble dryer. The same is true of the fact that drying in a washer-dryer will take longer than a standalone dryer. We are a family of four and avoid disposable stuff wherever possible (e.g. no paper kitchen roll, we used cloth nappies, washable face wipes, washable bum wipes) so I'd say we probably have more washing than most but even if I dried everything fully in the machine I'd still not struggle to get it all done (without drying overnight).

If you do end up going for a washer-dryer, I'd go for one that takes a decent size load. Mine washes 9kg and dries 6kg, so if everything will be dried in there I just put 6kg in and leave it to do its thing. If it's a load where some things will be air dried, I can do a 9kg wash, take a few things out then put the rest on to dry. I think most standalone tumble driers are 6-7kg so it doesn't compare too badly.

DigForVictory

I wouldn't, even though I did. Three under 5, washer dryer & our "Captain Hotpoint" was visiting every month to keep it running (thank god for kitchen cover!)
Now I've three hulking great teens a seperate washing machine & drier & they can sort loads, calculate 8 kilos of laundry, load & unload both machines & *even* iron (it's taken 15 years, mind.)

Get the best washing machine you can afford (baby will be Fine in Second Hand Almost Everythings except carseats), and a condenser dryer for when the weather will not cooperate with line drying or a rack in the shower cubicle. (Mine used to like watching laundry gyrate & drying flap...)

Dakota_Deville

Thank you all for trying to help the OP.

GreenFairy

I've had washer dryers in my last three rentals, and hated every one of them! I found them rubbish at drying, and cost much more than either a washer or dryer to run.

When we moved into our own place in September, we bought a super energy efficient washing machine with a fabulous spin cycle - I still have to hang things up, but even with our stingy use of heating all but towels are dry in under a day as so much of the water gets spun out of them in the washer.

redmalc

Stay well clear,always had them but this new one from Indesit is always breaking down.
At the moment we have used it for six days since 1st December they have been out three times to date

GwylimT

We have one, you can only dry half a load, but as i'm lazy I leave a whole load in and dry twice, does the job!

casper_g

I know they have the reputation of being unreliable, but we had washer dryers for seven years in rental properties and in the first house we bought, and none of them ever broke down. They weren't terrifically good at drying full loads, it's true, but it was good to have an option to dry a few things quickly if the weather was inclement and we'd run out of socks!

We've now got a separate washing machine and tumble dryer. This combination is much better for ploughing through loads of washing - apart from the fact the standalone tumble dryer does the job more quickly, it also allows you to dry one load while the next is in the washing machine.

One thing I do miss is being able to put a small load in to wash and dry as a continuous process while we're out for the day. i think my ideal set-up might well be a washer dryer and a separate tumble dryer, but this might be vetoed by Mrs Casper on the grounds of cost - especially if I get my own way on my bright idea of having two dishwashers!

Tiddlywinks

I echo the sentiments about reliability - my washer / dryer needed a repair 6 times in four years. I also hated not being able to wash one batch and dry another at the same time

So - I'd always say go for a separate washing machine and complement it with a condenser tumble dryer which will collect the water and cut down on condensation.

Tumble dryers are relatively light and can be lifted to rest on work tops so can be positioned above the washing machine.

I think you are underestimating the washing one little baby can produce in their daily activities and how hard it can be to keep on top of everything when it first arrives.... in months to come you'll look longingly back at your current washing arrangements and realise how much life has changed .